Statue of Braves legend Hank Aaron unveiled at Louisville Slugger Museum

LOUISVILLLE, Ky. — The late Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron will always be remembered by Atlanta Braves fans as their home run king.

On Thursday, the Louisville Slugger Museum unveiled a statue fit for Hammerin’ Hank and his swing.”

The museum and bat factory held a special unveiling with Aaron’s wife Billye in attendance. Members from the Boys and Girls Club and Boy Scouts, two organizations close to Aaron’s heart, also stood by the statue.

Aaron’s statue is just now one of seven at the museum. It joins the statues of Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Derek Jeter.

The statue features the Braves’ signature 1970s uniform with a red lowercase “a” baseball hat. It’s the same throwback uniform that the Braves wear when they celebrate Hank Aaron Weekend.

Billye Aaron said it’s something that her family will always appreciate.

“I’m delighted to be here. I’m very pleased with this effort that the slugger museum has made to preserve and protect Henry’s legacy. We will all in the Aaron family long remember this moment and the day that you memorialized Henry Aaron,” she said.

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Billye Aaron delivered her speech wearing an Atlanta Braves World Series ring that would have been given to her late husband. Aaron won a World Series with the 1957 Milwaukee Braves but played a part in growing the Atlanta Braves organization even after he retired.

“He loved them. They loved him. And they have been honestly overprotective of me,” she said. “Even in Cobb County, there is a statue of Henry that will remain there for years to come. The old one was left at Fulton County stadium. There is one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And now one here. So you can count that there will be four statues of Henry representing all of Major League Baseball.”

Billye Aaron continued her speech remembering the Braves’ 2021 World Series run and parade celebration.

She recited the same Shakespeare passage from “Romeo and Juliet,” saying the couple always teased by calling each other Romeo and Juliet.

“When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars. And he will make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night. And pay no worship to the garish sun,” Billye said. “Those words just light up my soul. For even now, I look into the heavens on occasion to find that star. On one of those little stars is Henry Aaron.”

“I can never forget Juliet’s words when referring to the love of her life as he was the love of my life.”

Billye Aaron speaks at Braves World Series celebration

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